Why Michael Page Is “Annoyed” With UFC Matchmaking Ahead Of March 21 Return In London

Michael Page is far from satisfied with the UFC’s approach to his recent matchmaking.

Page finally made his long-awaited Octagon debut at UFC 299 in March 2024, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory over promotional mainstay Kevin Holland. “Venom” returned to action later that year at UFC 303 in June but came up short against Ian Machado Garry.

The former Bellator standout bounced back impressively in 2025, first handing Shara Magomedov his first career loss at UFC Saudi Arabia before securing a decision victory over former title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 in August.

With that momentum, many expected Page to be paired with higher-ranked opposition, but that expectation fell short when his next matchup was announced. However, that expectation did not materialize, as “Venom” is now set to face unranked welterweight Sam Patterson at UFC London on March 21 at The O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom.

Michael Page seems just as puzzled as many fans by the UFC’s decision, even questioning whether the promotion’s leadership may be less than pleased with him.

Michael Page Wonders Why UFC Paired Him With Unranked Sam Patterson

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Michael Page shared his thoughts on his upcoming clash with Sam Patterson at UFC London. “Venom” expressed disappointment with the promotion’s matchmaking, suggesting that facing an unranked opponent at this stage of his career feels like a move in the wrong direction in terms of profile and recognition.

“Not [a fight] that I expected or was even looking for,” Page said. “It’s annoying for me because it’s not just an opponent that feels further down the ladder; he’s also someone that I’ve worked with before, as well, in preparation for other fights, so I know him well, so it’s another reason why I didn’t really want to have this fight. More so because again, I came here for big fights, I came here for big names, since my last fight, I’ve been asking for absolutely everybody, and for different reasons, it seems no one is willing to take the fight.

“It’s definitely not the fight I was looking for… Definitely not a fight I wanted… I’m not sure what winning a fight like this means outside of a potential highlight reel. I don’t feel like I’m in good favor with the UFC at the moment… I would’ve felt like a name like myself, I felt I would’ve been positioned [higher on the card]… It feels like I’ve upset somebody..”

Michael Page currently holds a 3-1 record in the UFC and boasts an overall professional mark of 24-3, highlighted by 13 knockout victories against notable opponents such as Goiti Yamauchi, Derek Anderson, and Shinsho Anzai.